PLEASANTON, Texas — A late-night confrontation in Pleasanton ended in tragedy Friday when 19-year-old Carlos Romero was fatally shot during an altercation involving two other teenagers.
According to the Pleasanton Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire just after 11:50 p.m. on August 15 in the 500 block of Duck Street. When they arrived at the intersection of Duck and Ohio Street, they discovered Romero suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Romero was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators immediately began canvassing the area, gathering witness statements that quickly pointed authorities to a residence in the 800 block of North Main Street. There, detectives located two persons of interest along with other witnesses. After extensive questioning, police identified the suspects as 18-year-old Daniel Gonzales of San Antonio and 19-year-old Seth Valenzuela of Pleasanton.
A search warrant executed during the investigation uncovered two firearms, gloves, and multiple cell phones near the intersection of Franklin and Martin, along with other evidence linking the suspects to the shooting.
Police said the deadly chain of events began when Romero was walking with his ex-girlfriend and her brother on Friday night. At some point, the ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend arrived on scene and confronted Romero. The dispute quickly escalated into a physical fight. Authorities allege Romero was assaulted but managed to fight back before both Gonzales and Valenzuela opened fire, fatally wounding him.
The incident has left the Pleasanton community shaken, as what began as a teenage dispute spiraled into deadly violence. Police Chief Ronald Sanchez emphasized the senselessness of the tragedy, noting that “a young man’s life has been lost due to reckless choices and escalating conflict.”
Both Gonzales and Valenzuela have been charged with murder and tampering with evidence. The ex-girlfriend, who is 17 years old, is also facing a possession of a controlled substance charge, though authorities did not disclose additional details about that arrest.
The case remains under investigation as police work to determine the full sequence of events that led to Romero’s death. Authorities are urging any additional witnesses to come forward with information that could aid the case.
Meanwhile, friends and family of Romero have begun mourning the loss of a young man whose life was cut short far too soon. “He didn’t deserve this,” one family member said. “Carlos was loved by everyone who knew him, and our hearts are broken.”
This marks one of the latest violent incidents involving teens in South Texas, prompting renewed calls from local leaders for greater intervention and support programs aimed at preventing disputes from escalating into deadly confrontations.